2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Ohio
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mechanical engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechanical engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
Stark State College earned the #1 spot for value among mechanical engineering schools in Ohio. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #2 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,125. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $71,448. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,817 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $68,061. Set against $24,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $20,500. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $88,747 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Toledo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $77,011 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,900 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Cleveland State University earned the #6 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $67,980 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Wright State University Lake Campus landed the #7 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Located in the rural area of Celina, Wright State University Lake Campus is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $7,372 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,072. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Wright State University Lake Campus generally make around $66,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wright State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $73,293. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $69,161. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Otterbein University came in at #10 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,548. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,282. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $45,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,282 median debt. Otterbein University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Mount Union placed #11 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the town of Alliance, University Of Mount Union is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,600. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Mount Union earn a median of $71,097 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mount Union admits about 78% of applicants.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Steubenville. In-state tuition and fees average $34,100. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,029. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Franciscan University Of Steubenville generally make around $43,020. Set against $25,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cedarville University earned the #13 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,150. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $69,178. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Ohio Northern University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,600. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $72,443 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,998. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $83,881. Set against $25,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $68,067 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton earned the #17 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $71,911. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #18 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Students borrow a median of $24,855 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $76,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,855 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
View All Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
